Camera module and electronic apparatus

Abstract

A camera module ( 40 ) of the present invention includes: an optical section ( 1 ) having an image pickup lens ( 2 ) and a lens barrel ( 3 ); and a lens driving device ( 10 ) including a lens holder ( 11 ). The optical section ( 1 ) and the lens driving device ( 10 ) are provided on an upper side of a sensor cover ( 23 ) covering an image pickup element ( 22 ) of an image pickup section ( 20 ). The lens barrel ( 3 ) is positioned at such a location that the lens barrel ( 3 ) does not make contact with the sensor cover ( 23 ), so that the lens barrel ( 3 ) is fixed to the lens holder ( 11 ) at the location. Before being fixed to the lens holder ( 11 ), the lens barrel ( 3 ) is slidable in the optical axis direction with respect to the lens holder ( 11 ).

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 : A camera module, comprising:
 an optical section having an image pickup lens and a lens barrel holding the image pickup lens; and   a lens driving device which includes a lens holder holding the optical section and which drives the optical section and the lens holder integrally with each other in an optical axis direction and a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction,   the optical section and the lens driving device being provided on an upper side of a sensor cover covering an image pickup element of an image pickup section,   the lens barrel being positioned at such a location that the lens barrel does not make contact with the sensor cover, so that the lens barrel is fixed to the lens holder at the location,   the optical section being suspended above the upper side of the sensor cover without any support between a continuous area including respective bottoms of the lens barrel and the image pickup lens and the upper side of the sensor cover, and   before being fixed to the lens holder, the lens barrel being slidable in the optical axis direction with respect to the lens holder.   
     
     
         3 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 the lens driving device further includes an intermediate member at an outside of the lens holder and a fixed section at an outside of the intermediate member, and   the lens driving device drives the lens holder in the optical direction with respect to the intermediate member and drives the intermediate member in the direction orthogonal to the optical direction with respect to the fixed section.   
     
     
         4 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the lens barrel is positioned at the location where the lens barrel does not make contact with the sensor cover while the lens holder is in abutment with the intermediate member, so that the lens barrel is fixed to the lens holder at the location. 
     
     
         5 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein a height of an initial position of the optical section is determined with use of a jig. 
     
     
         6 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein
 the jig is constituted by a flat plate having a protrusion, and   the height of the initial position of the optical section is determined with use of the jig in such a manner that a top plane of the protrusion of the jig is caused to abut a bottom plane of the optical section which bottom plane is located on an image pickup element side.   
     
     
         7 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein
 the jig has a grasping section grasping the lens barrel of the optical section in such a manner that the lens barrel is slidable, with respect to the lens holder, in the optical axis direction, and   the height of the initial position of the optical section is determined with use of the jig in such a manner that the grasping section of the jig grasps the lens barrel of the optical section so as to displace the optical section in the optical axis direction.   
     
     
         8 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 the lens driving device includes, on a sensor cover side, a base supporting the lens holder so that the lens holder freely swings, the base having an opening to which the lens barrel is fit loosely, and   a gap between the opening of the base and the lens barrel is so set that the base does not make contact with the lens barrel even when the lens holder is displaced to a maximum extent toward the lens barrel.   
     
     
         9 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 the lens barrel having been positioned is fixed to the lens holder with an adhesive, and   a position where the adhesive is applied to the lens holder is lower than a top plane of the lens holder, the top plane being opposite to a bottom plane of the lens holder which bottom plane is located on the sensor cover side.   
     
     
         10 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein
 a module cover having, at a center thereof, an opening for exposing the lens barrel is so provided as to cover the lens holder and the lens barrel, and   the lens holder is so placed as not to make contact with the module cover even when the lens barrel moves to a maximum extent.   
     
     
         11 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the jig is made of only a non-magnetic material. 
     
     
         12 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein
 an inclination angle θ of the lens holder with respect to a surface of the sensor cover is set to meet a relation
   θ≦tan −1 ( H/D   E )−cos −1 ( D   I /√( D   E   2   +H   2 ))
 
   wherein DE represents an external diameter of a maximum external diameter portion of the lens barrel, H represents a thickness of the maximum external diameter portion of the lens barrel, and DI represents a cylindrical internal diameter of the lens holder.   
     
     
         13 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor cover covering the image pickup element of the image pickup section has an abutting section that abuts the image pickup element. 
     
     
         14 : The camera module as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor cover covering the image pickup element of the image pickup section does not make contact with the image pickup element. 
     
     
         15 : An electronic apparatus, comprising a camera module as set forth in  claim 2 .